tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14365760143523574832014-10-15T05:36:32.425-07:00Around the Love Shackfaith, straight talk, marriage, monkeys, food.mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-23674514591941208042013-01-16T12:27:00.000-08:002013-01-16T12:27:30.120-08:00What I've learned from my Waldorf friends...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="true" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="320" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/17811_4517079003317_1604531738_n.jpg" style="height: 520px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 390px;" width="240" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Lucia Day.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So this might be the start of a series....I hope this will be the start of the series, but I make no promises about that.&nbsp; But I would like to (for my benefit as well as your edification!) acknowledge the fact that my thoughts are largely not my own, but rather a swirled up stew of the very best bits of some of the very best people and experiences that God has blessed me with.&nbsp; I have so often been surrounded with really brilliant, lovely, thinking people and found myself awed and touched by the many gifts they have brought to my life.&nbsp; So, I'll start today with my Waldorf friends....<br /><br />If you don't know what a Waldorf-style education is, you should.&nbsp; Like anything in life, there are some aspects of it that don't really sit well with me and my understanding of God, creation and children - but that's to be expected....anything made by&nbsp; man is by necessity flawed.&nbsp; But here's a little link for you to get some basic understanding:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/02_W_Education/faq_about.asp">http://www.whywaldorfworks.org/02_W_Education/faq_about.asp</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp; One of the best things about Waldorf education is the toys and crafty stuff - check out <a href="http://www.bellalunatoys.com/">www.bellalunatoys.com</a>, <a href="http://www.ourseasonsofjoy.com/">www.ourseasonsofjoy.com</a> (really lovely preschool curriculum written by my brilliant friend, Annette), <a href="http://www.magiccabindolls.com/">www.magiccabindolls.com</a>, and <a href="http://www.waldorfsupplies.com/">www.waldorfsupplies.com</a>&nbsp;(just to name a few) for some really lovely play and create things.<br /><br />But it's the gentleness of it that really speaks to me lately - the idea that each child, each person takes time and space and guidance to unfold like a lovely flower opening.&nbsp; And that each bud and flower is different, thus each child has sincere, individual needs that can only be discovered and met by close, consistent and careful listening.&nbsp; That learning is a gentle process of first self-discovery (what can I do for myself, what can I accomplish, what beauty can I contribute?) and then a process of understanding how the self&nbsp; fits into the community (how can my gifts by used to help and serve, how can my accomplishments benefit others, how can my creativity be a gift to others?).&nbsp; And that children should be surrounded with natural, beautiful things - objects that are close to the way that God made them, that are full of imaginative potential, that have many uses, that stretch the mind, that encourage loving and communitarian play.&nbsp; <br /><br />And these thoughts are all such a far cry from the way that our flashy, cartoony, high-pressure American culture would bend and push us to raise our kids....with the mindset that they must excel, they must win, they must achieve, they must fit in, they must meet this standard at this time (obviously, I'm painting this with broad strokes...but, stereotypes are based in fact....).&nbsp; And if your child fits all that and thrives in that, good for you and for them.....my kids don't (we found this out by trying on K12 cyberschool for size this year.....a great program - for someone else!).&nbsp; <br /><br />I'll end with an example.....December 13 is St. Lucia's Day which we celebrated this year for the first time (another Waldorf bonus - lots of fun holidays and traditions to celebrate!).&nbsp; St Lucia was a Sicilian saint (which makes it an interesting question as to why she is so popular in Scandinavia.....but, I digress) who is celebrated, in part, because of her commitment to caring for members of the early Christian church who, under persecution, were hiding in catacombs.&nbsp; She is traditionally pictured with a wreath of candles on her head as this was the way she lit her path through the underground passages since her hands were full of food that she carried faithfully to her brothers and sisters in Christ.&nbsp; <br />On St. Lucia's Day, we talked about the light of Christ that we reflect in a broken and dark world, about how we can be light-bearers to those around us, and about how the light and love of God shines every day and in every circumstance.&nbsp; Three days later, my father-in-law - my girls' beloved Pap - passed from this life to the next.&nbsp; And two days after that, my grandmother also passed away.&nbsp; It was&nbsp;a bleak, terrible, dark week.&nbsp; But we had the reminder of a festival just passed, the gentle light of hope and joy and faithful provision in our minds and the example of a saint long-gone to provide strength, courage and direction.<br /><div align="center">﻿</div>So, we are slowing down.&nbsp; We're watching a lot less TV (a painful transition).&nbsp; We're knitting and sewing and re-acquainting ourselves with handiwork and watercolor painting.&nbsp; And we are working on our gentleness.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">So, thanks Annette. And thanks, Heidi.&nbsp; </div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-17306165665141071782013-01-12T08:38:00.001-08:002013-01-12T08:38:21.922-08:00weekend plansSo, what's up around here this weekend?&nbsp; Not much.<br /><br />Big Sarge is on base for drill.<br /><br />We're doing mountains of laundry, cleaning bedrooms and with a little luck, I will actually get our cyberschool stuff REALLY packed up and REALLY shipped back.<br /><br />Also school planning, knitting, and cooking supper for my Mom tonight.<br /><br />Church tomorrow - both can't wait and dread it....I'm in a tender, discouraged spot these days so good teaching is a little hard to hear (even though I need it)....and I suspect I over-shared at Bible study this week and feel a little foot-in-mouth about it.<br /><br />Blessed weekend to both my readers out there....whatcha doing these days?mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-76989564787850051682013-01-11T15:36:00.000-08:002013-01-11T15:36:26.207-08:00A sigh of relief<h3 class="heading passage-class-0" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Psalm 143 </em></span></h3><div class="txt-sm" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>New King James Version (NKJV)</em></span></div><h3 class="passage version-NKJV result-text-style-normal text-html " style="text-align: left;"><span class="text Ps-143-1" id="en-NKJV-16295"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance</em></span></span></h3><h4 class="psalm-title" style="text-align: left;"><span class="text Ps-143-1"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>A Psalm of David.</em></span></span></h4><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span class="chapter-3"><span class="text Ps-143-1">Hear my prayer, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span></span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-1">Give ear to my supplications!</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-1">In Your faithfulness answer me,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-1">And in Your righteousness.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-2" id="en-NKJV-16296"><sup class="versenum">2 </sup>Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-2">For in Your sight no one living is righteous.</span></em></span></div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span class="text Ps-143-3" id="en-NKJV-16297"><sup class="versenum">3 </sup>For the enemy has persecuted my soul;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-3">He has crushed my life to the ground;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-3">He has made me dwell in darkness,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-3">Like those who have long been dead.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-4" id="en-NKJV-16298"><sup class="versenum">4 </sup>Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-4">My heart within me is distressed.</span></em></span></div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span class="text Ps-143-5" id="en-NKJV-16299"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>I remember the days of old;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-5">I meditate on all Your works;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-5">I muse on the work of Your hands.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-6" id="en-NKJV-16300"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>I spread out my hands to You;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-6">My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. <span class="selah">Selah</span></span></em></span></div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span class="text Ps-143-7" id="en-NKJV-16301"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>Answer me speedily, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-7">My spirit fails!</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-7">Do not hide Your face from me,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-7">Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-8" id="en-NKJV-16302"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-8">For in You do I trust;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-8">Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-8">For I lift up my soul to You.</span></em></span></div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span class="text Ps-143-9" id="en-NKJV-16303"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>Deliver me, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, from my enemies;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-9">In You I take shelter.</span></em></span></div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span class="text Ps-143-9"></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span class="text Ps-143-10" id="en-NKJV-16304"><sup class="versenum">10 </sup>Teach me to do Your will,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-10">For You are my God;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-10">Your Spirit is good.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-10">Lead me in the land of uprightness.</span></em></span></div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span class="text Ps-143-11" id="en-NKJV-16305"><sup class="versenum">11 </sup>Revive me, O <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, for Your name’s sake!</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-11">For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-12" id="en-NKJV-16306"><sup class="versenum">12 </sup>In Your mercy cut off my enemies,</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-12">And destroy all those who afflict my soul;</span><br /><span class="text Ps-143-12">For I am Your servant.</span></em></span></div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-143-12"></span></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-143-12">God, I know you are there....I can remember those bright, blessed, unmistakable moments when I saw and knew and felt your amazing presence in me and my circumstance.&nbsp; I go back to those places and times and bathe in that close, tangible living warmth.&nbsp; </span></span></div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-143-12"></span></span>&nbsp;</div><div class="line" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text Ps-143-12">But, today?&nbsp; Today?&nbsp; I am reaching out for you in silence....silence because my heart is so heavy and burdened and angry and discouraged that there is barely room for breath in me.&nbsp; Where.are.you?</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">I am parched.&nbsp; I can barely move through this day.&nbsp; This week.&nbsp; This life.&nbsp; I am reaching, reaching, reaching for you.&nbsp; Finally seeing my desperate, unending, life-giving need for You, my Savior.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Answer speedily.&nbsp; I know that I won't wake up tomorrow and find all in order, all redeemed, all perfect.&nbsp; But just to wake up in freedom, in joy, without feeling like I'm fighting for each single breath.&nbsp; For each kind word I share.&nbsp; For each pasted on smile to celebrate a victory in another's life.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">I know what I need is a redeemed heart.&nbsp; I need to know what I am to do - and the gift of humility to do it.&nbsp; I need to know your will.&nbsp; Your truth.&nbsp; Your mercy.&nbsp;Because at the end of the day, I am YOUR servant.&nbsp; Not my servant.&nbsp; Or the world's.&nbsp; Or even my children's.&nbsp; But YOUR servant.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Revive me, O Lord, for your name's sake.</span>&nbsp;</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-69177503090791389752012-08-23T19:13:00.000-07:002012-08-23T19:13:01.154-07:00I'm not worthy....There was a post on the Mom's group I'm part of on Facebook about abusive husbands and the long term fall-out around that kind of violence.&nbsp; And it got me to thinking and remembering and reflecting on an experience from my college days.<br /><br />The summer between my sophomore and junior years at Earlham, my bestie at the time, Sarah and I went on an adventure in Brazil.&nbsp; We had planned on spending the whole summer trekking around the mountains and the Amazon.&nbsp; And then our plans took a sharp left turn.&nbsp; <br /><br />We were staying in a house on the side of a mountain outside of a smallish town.&nbsp; It was lovely - overlooking the ocean, quiet and secluded.&nbsp; And in our youth and foolishness, I suppose that it never really occurred to us that it was also a dangerous choice.&nbsp; One night, we were startled by noise in the upstairs bathroom and went to investigate.&nbsp; And were robbed at knife-point.&nbsp; It was beyond anything that the word terrifying can convey.&nbsp; I will never forget certain moments of that night - there are perfectly preserved snapshots in my mind and heart.&nbsp; <br /><br />I was thinking about the days and weeks after that night and my struggle to come back into myself and step out of the deep fear that gripped my soul back into normalcy when it struck me that it had literally been years since I had thanked my God for preserving my life and the life of my friend that night.&nbsp; <br /><br />We did not live through that by our own strength or wits (we were too scared to&nbsp;even pee our pants).....we were spared from death and injury by nothing other than God's grace and mercy.&nbsp; It wasn't fate or good luck or anything other than the Lord Jesus' hand staying the Enemy from destroying us.&nbsp; <br /><br />And had I not been taking a shower in the world's smallest shower stall, I would have hit my knees in joyful thanksgiving.&nbsp; Instead I threw my hands to the sky and praised my Jesus for my life.&nbsp; <br /><br />Thank you Lord for the gift of my life.<br />Thank you Lord for the gift of my life.<br />And again...<br />Thank you Lord for the gift of my life.<br /><br />And I wept tears of gratitude, humbled that the King of Heaven remembered me and Sarah in our distress.<br /><br />And I prayed - Lord, help me be worthy of the gift of my life.<br />And instantly, I knew.&nbsp; I knew that that prayer was wrong.&nbsp; It was a wet blanket thrown over the joy of true gratitude.<br /><br />What, Lord?&nbsp; What is wrong?&nbsp; <br /><br />And then the voice of my Savior spoken into the deep and sad and angry and fearful places of my heart:&nbsp; Mary, do you still not understand?&nbsp; You are worthy.&nbsp; YOU ARE WORTHY.&nbsp; I have already made you so.&nbsp; You are worthy of the gift of not only your life - but you are worthy of the gift of my life.&nbsp; You have been worthy since I knew you before time began.&nbsp; Now do you see?&nbsp; You are worthy.<br /><br />Crushed.&nbsp; Humbled.&nbsp; Hopeful.&nbsp; Glimpsing God's goodness and mercy.&nbsp; I wept tears of gratitude that perhaps I understood a little.<br /><br />And a new prayer.&nbsp; Lord, help me to truly rejoice in the gift of my life.&nbsp; Help me to rejoice.&nbsp; <br />Rejoice.&nbsp; <br />Rejoice.mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-62833980699075061612012-04-10T20:51:00.000-07:002013-01-12T09:52:36.104-08:00Pick Your PoisonWe have a neighbor who lost a relative to suicide in the last week.&nbsp; And while I'm totally not negating the pain that comes with such a loss (a pain I cannot begin to imagine), I've wondered in the last few days about the meaning and nature of despair, about the means by which we combat deep sadness (or don't combat it, as the case may be), about having a living body but a spirit that is dead, about how culturally acceptable it is to <u>slowly</u> murder ourselves, about what it means to LIVE.<br /><br />I'm not sure I have ever really grasped what the phrase 'abundant life' actually is, actually feels, actually looks like.&nbsp; I'm much more&nbsp; at home with the phrase 'ok life,' or 'this day has really sucked life,' or 'woe is me life.'&nbsp; I'm far more adept at feeling sorry for myself than I am at giving thanks for really much of anything.&nbsp; And I totally know&nbsp;how to get down and stay down - and in the process drag everybody else down with me.&nbsp; I don't really mean to despair - but it's JUST SO MUCH EASIER in my flesh than to be joyful and grateful.<br /><br />Are you with me?&nbsp; Or am I the only bummer around here?<br /><br />This down-ness inevitably leads to self-medication.&nbsp; And there are many forms of slow poison we can choose.&nbsp; <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then there's the heart issues.&nbsp; What if our body is physically alive but are hearts are squeezed to death by spiritual immaturities?&nbsp; What if we are slowly killing ourselves, our relationships and the hearts of our loved ones with things like</div><div style="text-align: center;">envy</div><div style="text-align: center;">gossip</div><div style="text-align: center;">bitterness</div><div style="text-align: center;">unforgiveness</div><div style="text-align: center;">laziness</div><div style="text-align: center;">wastefulness</div><div style="text-align: center;">apathy</div><div style="text-align: center;">unkindness</div><div style="text-align: center;">anger</div><div style="text-align: center;">malice</div><div style="text-align: center;">rage</div><div style="text-align: center;">self-righteousness</div><div style="text-align: center;">pride.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My friends, there are all kinds of ways to kill what is beautiful and holy and glorious in ourselves and others.&nbsp; But there's only one way to live.&nbsp; And his name is Jesus.&nbsp; The problem is that we are too prideful, too apathetic and too frightened to let go our crutches and LIVE.&nbsp; At least I am - because I know how to limp along and keep a bandaid on the really ugly things about myself.&nbsp; But God's not fooled.&nbsp; Not one little bit.&nbsp; And every moment that I resist God's salvation for my dying self, every self-loathing thought and attitude, every breath that wounds another of His children - every barrier, fence, and defense that I raise to my Jesus' desire for my abudant life is choice to DIE.&nbsp; I pray for the strength and courage to live and love and glorify my Lord.﻿</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-53151373205531145902012-02-23T19:22:00.000-08:002012-02-23T19:33:54.252-08:00The root of mercy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://stepupyourpretty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/deep-roots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://stepupyourpretty.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/deep-roots.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">January was a long hard month.&nbsp; Really long and really hard.&nbsp; We had just over three weeks of really wicked stomach bugs that we just passed around and around (well, they passed...Mama never got sick - I just had to clean up after all of them!).&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then my Nana was taken to the hospital for&nbsp;a week long stay after a dangerously low blood sugar and now is finishing up a month or so of inpatient rehab.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And&nbsp;the Big Sarge&nbsp;switched over to third shift.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And I've been really, really, really tired.&nbsp; And thus, really, really, really rude.&nbsp; To everyone.&nbsp; But mostly my husband.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At some point this month, I made a conscious decision to really pray about my mouth and its destructive power.&nbsp; And I've been doing pretty well.&nbsp; Not perfect...but, my name's not Jesus.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img class="sg_t" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1622377247090&amp;id=b2ce58e5337b0c879a508cfae917dcd7&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2f4.bp.blogspot.com%2f_MSl44qwXans%2fTPFdsQtPyjI%2fAAAAAAAAAHg%2fakngla88Awc%2fS1600-R%2fhello-my-name-is-jesus.jpg" style="height: 90px; top: 23px;" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'll give you an example:&nbsp; the other day, The Big Sarge said something that really irritated me.&nbsp; Really.&nbsp; I just totally thought that what he said was really stupid and immature.&nbsp; And instead of telling him so, I kept my mouth shut.&nbsp; I knew that I just needed to pray about this area for him - pray that he would get a little further along in his journey and really just be better...and because he had this little wrinkle in his personality, I really wanted to be merciful towards him...I'm not immature in this particular way so I should be patient and kind to him until he catches up with me.&nbsp; That's mercy, right?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wrong.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's not mercy.&nbsp; That's pride and self-righteousness.&nbsp; My Holy Spirit whispered these loud, blaring words into my heart.&nbsp; Mercy is not born out of seeing the one, microscopic aspect of myself that I have momentarily conquered and then patronizing and patting on the head those who are still struggling there.&nbsp; Mercy is born out precisely the opposite place.&nbsp; It is born out of the real, deep and total knowledge of my own shortcomings - when I view myself in light of God's perfect holiness, there is no room for me to be anything but humble....when I view myself in light of God's mercy on me, how can I do anything but show real, true mercy to those around me.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The end result may be the same - I may manage to keep my mouth shut - but Jesus isn't interested just in the end result....He is interested in the heart.<br /><br />The Heart.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://theemanuelproject.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="http://theemanuelproject.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/heart.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My Heart.&nbsp; Your Heart.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And while I do think (hope.&nbsp; pray) that I get half-credit for at least keeping my mouth shut, dear Jesus isn't satisfied until my motivation is right.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Does this discourage you?&nbsp; It discourages me.&nbsp; A lot.&nbsp; But it shouldn't.&nbsp; Five years ago, none of this would ever have even occur ed to me. I would have gleefully slayed my man with my mouth and never looked back.&nbsp; And I would have stomped on and flamed the little bits of him that had dropped off during my attack.&nbsp; It's a process.&nbsp; Five years ago, I had no idea my heart wasn't right - at least now I know and can pray for forgiveness.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And strive.&nbsp; Strive.&nbsp; Strive.&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not striving for right behavior.&nbsp; But striving for&nbsp;a heart that is like Christ's.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-74461483355304861492012-02-13T20:15:00.000-08:002013-01-12T09:52:53.742-08:00For Finding Peace of Mind Through Forgiveness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><br /><br />Our prayerbook prayer for tonight:<br /><em>For Finding Peace of Mind Through Forgiveness</em><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em></em><br /></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To Your Father-heart I come today, Lord God, seeking peace of mind.&nbsp; I am distressed and perturbed, irritated and worried.&nbsp; I am dissatisfied with myself and the world around me.&nbsp; My sinful heart is rebellious, my day is filled with envy, and my feelings are so easily hurt.&nbsp; I know, O&nbsp; Lord, that I am at fault.&nbsp; I have not opened my heart to You, nor have I given service and consideration to those with whom I live in this home and to those with whom I must work throughout the day.&nbsp; Everything annoys me, I must confess.&nbsp; Those with whom I work get on my nerves.&nbsp; O God, I admit that it&nbsp;is I, my sins, my lovelessness, which create these situations.&nbsp; Therefore, I come to You, asking You for grace to conquer myself.&nbsp; Restore to me the desire to walk in Your presence, and let me live in the sunshine of Your love.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Forgive me all my sins, and fill my soul with peace.&nbsp; Go with me, Lord, throughout the day, put my mind at ease, and speak peace to my soul through that reconciliation which is found in the Cross of Jesus, my Savior.&nbsp; Amen<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">prayer from My Prayer Book, published by Concordia Publishing House, 1980.</span></em>﻿</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-87159727217427000382012-02-06T09:37:00.000-08:002012-02-06T09:37:02.719-08:00that about sums it up<v:group coordorigin="1072134,1060704" coordsize="59436,44577" id="_x0000_s1025" style="height: 351pt; left: 1in; position: absolute; top: 1in; width: 468pt; z-index: 1;"> <v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" id="_x0000_t202" o:spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"> </v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape fillcolor="white [7]" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1026" insetpen="t" o:cliptowrap="t" strokecolor="black [0]" stroked="f" style="mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 2.88pt; position: absolute;" type="#_x0000_t202"> <v:fill color2="white [7]"> <v:stroke color2="white [7]"> <o:left color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"> <o:top color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"> <o:right color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"> <o:bottom color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"> <o:column color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"> </o:column></o:bottom></o:right></o:top></o:left></v:stroke> <v:shadow color="#d4d4d6 [4]"> <v:textbox inset="2.88pt,2.88pt,2.88pt,2.88pt" style="mso-column-margin: 5.76pt;"> </v:textbox></v:shadow></v:fill></v:shape></v:group><br /><div dir="ltr"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;">To maintain a </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #5a6378; font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">joyful family </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;">requires <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;">much from both the </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #60b5cc; font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">parents and the <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #60b5cc; font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">children</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Each member of the family has <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;">to become, in a special way, </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #f0ad00; font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">the servant <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #f0ad00; font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">of the others</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;"> and share their burdens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;">Each one must </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #7dcae8; font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">show concern </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;">not only for <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;">his or her own life, but also for the lives of the other members of the family:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #eeaa22; font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">their needs</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">, </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #5a6378; font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">their hopes</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">, <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #7dcae8; font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">their ideals</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Script MT Bold&quot;;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;"><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;">Blessed John Paul II</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-default-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;; mso-latin-font-family: &quot;Goudy Stout&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></div></div><v:rect fillcolor="white [7]" filled="f" id="_x0000_s1027" o:cliptowrap="t" strokecolor="#5a6378 [1]" strokeweight="6pt" style="mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-left: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 2.88pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 2.88pt; position: absolute;"> <v:fill color2="white [7]"> <v:stroke color2="white [7]" linestyle="thickBetweenThin"> <o:left color2="white [7]" color="#5a6378 [1]" joinstyle="miter" v:ext="view" weight="1pt"> <o:top color2="white [7]" color="#5a6378 [1]" joinstyle="miter" v:ext="view" weight="1pt"> <o:right color2="white [7]" color="#5a6378 [1]" joinstyle="miter" v:ext="view" weight="1pt"> <o:bottom color2="white [7]" color="#5a6378 [1]" joinstyle="miter" v:ext="view" weight="1pt"> <o:column color2="white [7]" color="black [0]" v:ext="view"> </o:column></o:bottom></o:right></o:top></o:left></v:stroke> <v:shadow color="#d4d4d6 [4]"> <v:textbox inset="2.88pt,2.88pt,2.88pt,2.88pt"> </v:textbox></v:shadow></v:fill></v:rect>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-23851569248384574062012-01-23T19:40:00.000-08:002013-01-12T09:53:31.817-08:00Radical<div style="text-align: center;">I'd like to introduce you to my new friend:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: &quot;Courier New&quot;, Courier, monospace;">Radical....by David Platt</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm about three chapters in so far....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My early opinion:&nbsp; This is a hard-hat, steel toes only area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This book is not for the faint of heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This ain't no jive talkin'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Um...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's kinda hard to explain - I'll let Pastor David speak for himself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buckle up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I am convinced that we as Christ followers in American churches have embraced values and ideas that are not only unbiblical but that actually contradict the Gospel we claim to believe." pg. 3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We were settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves." pg. 7</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We are giving into the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with....A nice, middle-class, American Jesus....who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts....who wants us to be balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes...A Jesus who brings us comfort and prosperity..." pg. 13</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img class="sg_t" height="300" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1573891282383&amp;id=c89ae769ca9f2b79728d57083f98fc4c&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2fi687.photobucket.com%2falbums%2fvv232%2fJAGS24_2009%2fJesusismyKing.jpg" style="height: 250px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 246px;" width="296" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "And the danger now is that when we gather in our church buildings to sing and lift up our hands in worship, we may not actually be worshipping the Jesus of the Bible.&nbsp; Instead we may be worshipping ourselves."&nbsp; pg. 13</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img class="sg_t" height="157" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1545024312732&amp;id=253a950490831a71d3bd7921aa8b3ea8&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freewebs.com%2fjdministries%2fhands-worshiping.jpg" style="height: 157px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 233px;" width="233" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We spurn our Creator's authority over us.&nbsp; God beckons storm clouds and they come.&nbsp; He tells the wind to blow and the rain to fall, and they obey immediately.&nbsp; He speaks to the mountains, "You go there," and he says to the seas, "You stop here," and they do it.&nbsp; Everything in all creation responds in obedience to the Creator...until you get to you and me.&nbsp; We have the audacity to look God in the face and say,'No'." pg.31</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img class="sg_t" height="225" src="http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1532656693415&amp;id=561570eb054f3fc1d2e6012539ffda76&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2fskvots.net%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2009%2f08%2fhimalaya.jpg" style="height: 187px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Both our diagnosis of the situation and our conclusion regarding the solution fit nicely in a culture that exalts self-sufficiency, self-esteem and self-confidence.&nbsp; We already have a fairly high view of our morality , so when we add a superstitious prayer, a subsequent dose of church attendance, and obedience to some of the Bible, we feel pretty sure that we will be all right in the end." pg. 32</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img class="sg_t" height="300" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1518330578840&amp;id=ab204ce03abe391d8320fad953c96729&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2fwwjd4u.com%2fsmile_jesus_loves_you.gif" style="height: 250px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 249px;" width="299" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What happened at the Cross was not primarily about nails being thrust into Jesus' hands and feet but about the wrath due your sin and my sin being thrust upon his soul...One preacher described it as if you and I were standing a short hundred yards away from a dam of water ten thousand miles high and ten thousand miles wide.&nbsp; All of a sudden that dam was breached, and a torrential flood of water came crashing toward us.&nbsp; Right before it reached our feet, the ground in front of us opened up and swallowed it all.&nbsp; At the Cross, Christ drank the full cup of the wrath of God and when he had downed the last drop, he turned the cup over and cried out,'It is finished.'" pg. 36</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1514539975254&amp;id=c242aac1b1b27d72f2582c5215cf4b85&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2ffreewebs.com%2flightforthepath%2fjesus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" class="sg_t" height="196" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1514539975254&amp;id=c242aac1b1b27d72f2582c5215cf4b85&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2ffreewebs.com%2flightforthepath%2fjesus.jpg" style="height: 163px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We have taken the infinitely glorious Son of God, who endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God and who now reigns as the infinitely worthy Lord of all, and we have reduced Him to a poor puny Savior who is just begging for us to accept Him." pg. 37</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img class="sg_t" height="300" src="http://ts3.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1523549351038&amp;id=2eb1ed5cc66f100ceeb1a5dade9d69e4&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2fdimitrelos.gr%2fdimitrelos_shop%2fimages%2fCHRISTOS_ENTHRONOS_JESUS_thumb.jpg" style="height: 250px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I invite you to consider with me a proper response to this gospel.&nbsp; Surely more than praying a prayer is involved.&nbsp; Surely more than religious attendance is warranted.&nbsp; Surely this gospel evokes unconditional surrender of all that we are and all that we have to all that he is." pg. 37</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Here the gospel demands and enables us to turn from our sin, to take up our cross, to die to ourselves, and to follow Jesus....And salvation now consists of a deep wrestling in our souls with the sinfulness of our hearts, the depth of our depravity and the&nbsp;desperation of our need for his grace.&nbsp; Jesus is no longer one to be accepted or invited in but one who infinitely worthy of our immediate and total surrender."&nbsp; pg. 39</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Total surrender.&nbsp; Total surrender.&nbsp; Total surrender.&nbsp; Lord, help my unbelief.﻿</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-27086027705160761552012-01-19T20:18:00.000-08:002012-01-19T20:32:48.860-08:00Organizational Nonsense<span style="font-family: inherit;">Several months ago, after trying to get one thing out of my spice cabinet and having fifteen others fall out on my head AGAIN (!#^@*), I decided it was time to _actually_do something about this mess besides complain and semi-swear about it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I pulled everything out of the cabinet and was surprised to see how much really cool stuff was hiding in back of my cabinet.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cxDxpOmjF7o/TxgonJyMuyI/AAAAAAAAAGc/GTogM2UHV8c/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cxDxpOmjF7o/TxgonJyMuyI/AAAAAAAAAGc/GTogM2UHV8c/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chaos!!&nbsp; Chaos!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VL8NYaT_Gf0/TxgowAWlqBI/AAAAAAAAAG0/3k2ipKwKUtE/s1600/204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VL8NYaT_Gf0/TxgowAWlqBI/AAAAAAAAAG0/3k2ipKwKUtE/s320/204.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">that's&nbsp;A LOT of coriander...good thing we eat it 'most every day...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EkLExzFstD4/Txgotu8PIRI/AAAAAAAAAGs/x-UhsDoqGbI/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EkLExzFstD4/Txgotu8PIRI/AAAAAAAAAGs/x-UhsDoqGbI/s320/202.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">baking stuff....too bad I don't bake much....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So, we sorted and got rid of, labelled&nbsp;and reorganized....and it was beautiful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7o6DVw-1K4/TxhtnGQp6kI/AAAAAAAAAG8/L7rkFDjzdG8/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7o6DVw-1K4/TxhtnGQp6kI/AAAAAAAAAG8/L7rkFDjzdG8/s320/205.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syq0dDkLn5Q/TxhtrfdkEzI/AAAAAAAAAHE/ab_i4PBBcms/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-syq0dDkLn5Q/TxhtrfdkEzI/AAAAAAAAAHE/ab_i4PBBcms/s320/206.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Baking stuff all together on the top shelf....herbs together, seeds together,&nbsp; all the bags poured into jars and labelled, all the spice blends snuggled up together.&nbsp; It's lovely.&nbsp; Really.&nbsp; I was really feeling great about myself.&nbsp; And then this thought came to me:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Child, you've just spent an hour organizing hundreds of dollars </em><em>worth of seasonings.&nbsp; </em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Seasonings.&nbsp; Not even food</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: inherit;">that would keep you alive.&nbsp; Do you know</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>that people are starving?&nbsp; Starving.&nbsp; Are you sure your </em><em>priorities are in the right order?</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I would like to think that my cabinet of spices is no big deal.....but is it?&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do I justify it to this baby's Mama?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img class="sg_t" height="200" src="http://ts2.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1577129220621&amp;id=4c0d27395fe4c3990cb284f10b7475ac&amp;url=http%3a%2f%2farmannd.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2fhorn-of-africa-famine-1.jpg" style="height: 166px; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 250px;" width="300" /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do I explain to her why my babies are healthy, clean and well fed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWWlHEKrUCo/TxhxPYHnXVI/AAAAAAAAAHs/CqM4EB7CYhI/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWWlHEKrUCo/TxhxPYHnXVI/AAAAAAAAAHs/CqM4EB7CYhI/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or how about to these people?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://cache2.artprintimages.com/p/LRG/27/2738/6JOND00Z/art-print/alfred-de-montesquiou-children-play-in-the-north-darfur-refugee-camp-of-el-sallam-on-wednesday-october-4-2006.jpg" />﻿</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do you think that they would be sympathetic to my dissatisfied heart about my house because its a double-wide in a really nice park with no room for a real garden&nbsp;- and not a <em>real </em>house with a big yard and a tree swing?&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1_FXXAePAdA/Txh0TeajdNI/AAAAAAAAAH0/_xbY6mOKupo/s1600/050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1_FXXAePAdA/Txh0TeajdNI/AAAAAAAAAH0/_xbY6mOKupo/s320/050.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My life's really tough, isn't it?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And I moan and groan because I've overfed myself and so some of my clothes don't fit and I don't have money to buy new ones.&nbsp; Or my husband blessedly has a job in this tough economy, but he's not making enough money for my taste.&nbsp; Or my Bible isn't the perfect translation.&nbsp; Or I can't afford the most perfect curriculum for my homeschooled kids - while all over the world, children are doomed to a life of illiteracy because they lack a pencil.&nbsp; A freaking pencil....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody><>&lt;&gt;<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img alt="Children of the Lundazi Village Pencil Project gifts" class="image" height="305" src="http://thepencilproject.com/childrenofLundazi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="408" /></span></td></tr><>&lt;&gt;<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">(photo from </span><a href="http://thepencilproject.com/"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">http://thepencilproject.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">check them out....I think we'll be getting to know these folks very soon!)</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I'm not saying that it's wrong to research good curriculum or buy new clothes or even have a really nice house.&nbsp; I'm saying it's wrong to have those things <span style="color: black;"><strong>first</strong></span> - first on our minds, first in our checkbooks, first in our hearts.&nbsp; </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">What kind of wretch am I that I won't buy cheap mayonnaise because it doesn't taste as good, and then go home and wonder if I can afford to make my monthly commitment of $64 to Food for the Hungry for two sponsored children?&nbsp; </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">What, I'm really not willing to go without one bit of food for my over-sated self, one bit of comfort in a house crammed full of comforts, one single ounce of selfishness to meet the basic needs of a brother or sister in Christ?&nbsp; </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Maybe I'm overthinking this.&nbsp; Exaggerating.&nbsp; Making something out of nothing.&nbsp; Maybe.&nbsp; But one thing I KNOW for certain - one day I will have to stand and face the Lord Jesus in judgement and I will have to give an accounting for my life.&nbsp; And I seriously don't think a well-ordered spice cabinet, a well-groomed lawn or even well-educated children are going to win me any favor.&nbsp; </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">If I have any hope of hearing, "Well done..." my life, my heart, my priorities, my goals, my dreams, my checkbook, my waistline, my closet, my attitude&nbsp;- they all have to begin to change NOW.&nbsp; And change radically.&nbsp; </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">My whole life has to be about Kingdom work....about making sure that EVERYONE - from LadyBug, Firecracker and the Griz to my neighbors to my brothers and sister around the world - knows that the Lord Jesus is in love with them.&nbsp; That He seeks them.&nbsp; That He wants, more than anything, to wrap them in His mercy and goodness - no matter who they, where they are or what they are doing.&nbsp; That the Bible is not ancient history, not a collection of moralistic fables, not an instruction book - but a LOVE STORY written to and for and about them.&nbsp; </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It's ok to organize our kitchens....but it's probably also about time&nbsp;to organize our priorities.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></div></td></tr><>&lt;&gt;<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-76794670507892405652011-09-09T11:29:00.000-07:002011-09-09T11:29:06.592-07:00Alanna: Song of the Lioness - One of the more horrifying things I've read lately...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4aDlXXjecDM/TmpaVIlcZVI/AAAAAAAAAFU/yWN2mvIMh_g/s1600/alanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4aDlXXjecDM/TmpaVIlcZVI/AAAAAAAAAFU/yWN2mvIMh_g/s200/alanna.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><br /><br />So, as many of you know, we are avid readers and listeners to audio books. We routinely have dozens of books out of the library at a time and always have a story going in the car and sometimes a second on in the house. We read aloud (or try to) nearly every day. We love books. And it is with a heavy heart that I have to just say that no one in this house can read a certain author. Ever. But, that is where I'm coming down on Tamora Pierce and her Alanna series. <br /><br />I was initially really pumped about this series. In a nutshell, it's about a young girl who really would rather be a boy - instead of heading to the convent like she should, she switches places with her twin brother (who would rather be a wizard than a knight) and goes to the castle to be trained as a knight. And, since I have one who often feels the same way - that she would rather be a knight than a lady any day - I thought surely this series who give some good messages about being who we are rather than always longing for something else. And since I didn't finish the book or series, and have absolutely no desire to at this point or any conceivable point in the future, maybe eventually Pierce gets around to those kinds of messages....but somehow I doubt it. Alanna is a whining liar....and a first-class manipulator - an unrepentant fool. Great role model. <br /><br />But wait, there's more.<br /><br />In any coming-of-age story involving girls, clearly you expect to tread some muddy waters. And the section of the story about Alanna's changing shape was a little too frank for my comfort, but since I've only got girls listening, I let it go without comment. But when the next big change comes for Alanna, she takes herself off to a healing woman since she really doesn't understand what is happening to her. The conversation between them goes well beyond 'frank' totally into the land of 'holy crap, are you kidding me?????'. The healing woman gives her the basics - and then finishes with this bit of advice: The only way to stop your cycle is lie with a man and get with child. And follows up with this question: Do you know what happens when you lie with a man? Ummm, excuse me? At this point, I turned this off in the car so that I could listen to the answer to this question without the kids. And the answer had to do with whether or not men and women enjoy 'laying together' and that laying with a man makes babies. Alanna is then given a magic charm to wear around her neck to keep her from getting pregnant when she does 'lay' with someone. <br /><br />WHAT???? Really, I about had a STROKE.<br /><br />What the heck kind of lesson is this for our girls? <br /><br />And out of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Alanna-First-Adventure-Song-Lioness/product-reviews/1442426411/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&amp;showViewpoints=1">606 reviews on Amazon</a>, 523 gave this 5 stars. I read almost all of the 1 and 2 star reviews and rarely were moral issues raised - particularly appalling since as the series goes on, Alanna actually 'lies' with no less than three teenage boys! WHAT?????<br /><br />Look, I know I'm stuffy and frumpy and old-fashioned. But why, why do we want to teach our daughters that they have to be like men to mean something? Why do we have to be so dang explicit about private issues? Why are we creating characters for our daughters to look up to who hate the parts and processes of their God-given bodies that make them who they are? And why do we indoctrinate them to believe that a 'magic charm' is all that stands between them and 'safely' satisfying their lust? <br /><br />Dads and Moms, make your own choice, but as for me and my house....we ain't inviting Tamora Pierce in here again.mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-47420735981436662672011-08-06T09:40:00.000-07:002011-08-06T09:40:24.334-07:00weekend plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KU52T8HF-1g/Tj1qhXAtZ0I/AAAAAAAAAFA/D-N33_sU3o0/s1600/ducksinrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KU52T8HF-1g/Tj1qhXAtZ0I/AAAAAAAAAFA/D-N33_sU3o0/s1600/ducksinrow.jpg" /></a></div>Well, the monkeys are all with Gram for a while today...I'm supposed to be cleaning and sewing a skirt....I'm cruising the 'net and trying to figure out why Facebook won't let my cutie videos play....on a positive note, I did get boxes for Big Sarge packed and sealed, and all the customs nonsense filled out - so post office on Monday!<br /><br />Then, back to Gram's for pot roast.&nbsp; Baths all 'round - always have to have a bath on Saturday because Jesus doesn't like you if you're dirty...<br /><br />Tomorrow is church day, church day, church day.&nbsp; And picking up my Nana for Sunday dinner at the farm.&nbsp; <br /><br />Not much, but a lot.&nbsp; A blessed weekend to all!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-69942557170928195922011-08-04T20:55:00.000-07:002011-08-04T20:55:32.764-07:00Hey Mama, shut up already!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy9XnGcSaCc/Tjtn-88StEI/AAAAAAAAAE8/wUlgFhHuTz0/s1600/mrt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vy9XnGcSaCc/Tjtn-88StEI/AAAAAAAAAE8/wUlgFhHuTz0/s1600/mrt.jpg" /></a></div>I talk too much.&nbsp; And I referee too much.&nbsp; So, let me tell you a story about the day I actually shut my mouth.<br /><br />I HATE bickering.&nbsp; I hate it when my kids pick at, poke at, aggravate at, and are generally mean to each other.&nbsp; I think it's awful.&nbsp; It seems like just a ridiculous waste of time and energy.&nbsp; My usual response is to intervene and try to logically explain to them why this nonsense ought to cease.&nbsp; I'm sure you can guess how effective this strategy is.&nbsp; <br /><br />I think the reason that it's such an abyssmal failure, is that I'm always trying to be in on the solution.&nbsp; And if the problem isn't about me....guess what?&nbsp; The solution isn't about me, either.&nbsp; <br /><br />So, a few nights ago, as we were driving home from Gram's......the bickering began in the back.&nbsp; And I said&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVwcslTpfUA/Tjtd2IiRrSI/AAAAAAAAAE0/OQeTKljPrZ8/s1600/nothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVwcslTpfUA/Tjtd2IiRrSI/AAAAAAAAAE0/OQeTKljPrZ8/s1600/nothing.jpg" /></a></div><br />And it got louder and nastier.&nbsp; And I said <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVwcslTpfUA/Tjtd2IiRrSI/AAAAAAAAAE0/OQeTKljPrZ8/s1600/nothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVwcslTpfUA/Tjtd2IiRrSI/AAAAAAAAAE0/OQeTKljPrZ8/s1600/nothing.jpg" /></a></div>And they were by now saying some really nasty stuff.&nbsp; REALLY NASTY.&nbsp; And I said<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVwcslTpfUA/Tjtd2IiRrSI/AAAAAAAAAE0/OQeTKljPrZ8/s1600/nothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVwcslTpfUA/Tjtd2IiRrSI/AAAAAAAAAE0/OQeTKljPrZ8/s1600/nothing.jpg" /></a></div>Instead of running my big fat mouth, I prayed.&nbsp; Prayed for silence, for patience, for remorse, for change of heart, that they would forget the nasty things they had heard said to them, for them to love each other.&nbsp; <br /><br />By the time we got home, tempers were hot - Firecracker took off as if she had been shot out of a cannon as soon as the van door was open.&nbsp; She wasn't coming into the house.&nbsp; She didn't live here any more.&nbsp; She didn't care.&nbsp; She hated all of us.&nbsp; And I very calmly told her that if she wasn't on my 6 by the time I was inside, she was locked out for the night.&nbsp; <br /><br />And the LadyBug began to cry.&nbsp; <br /><br />Crying is not a normal activity for the LadyBug.&nbsp; I resisted the urge to let my mouth hang open in stunned amazement.&nbsp; <br /><br />Somehow, we all made it inside and by the time I had the Griz settled and changed, the Bigs were each squirreled away in separate corners with notebooks and pencils, hard at work on something.&nbsp; It turns out that they were writing each other letters of apology.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eB9wZ4XAVxQ/TjthTOKA7aI/AAAAAAAAAE4/R-E8aPDiNoI/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eB9wZ4XAVxQ/TjthTOKA7aI/AAAAAAAAAE4/R-E8aPDiNoI/s320/025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hadn't said a single word during the argument or since we had been home about what they should and should not do or say.&nbsp; I asked the LadyBug later what had happened and she told me that she just had to say she was sorry because some of the things she had said were SO mean and nasty.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Because I didn't referee the boxing match, it got really ugly, really fast....but I think that was the best thing for them.&nbsp; I didn't get in the way of the real ugliness of bickering and fighting at its end point.&nbsp; I never want them to say the really mean stuff, so I stop them.&nbsp; But on this occasion, I let them fire everything they had at each other.&nbsp; And once all that nasty stuff hit the air and they heard out loud all the things that they say in the privacy of their hearts, they heard and understood how dreadfully unkind and sinful it was.&nbsp; And&nbsp; the reality of it brought them to a place of repentence (for the moment....I'm sure we'll sing this song a few hundred more times around here).&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I began to think about all the little bits of bitter nastiness that I've got stored up all around inside of my heart.&nbsp; We all have piles and piles of nasty, oozy, black stuff that we harbor in our hearts towards other people; those vile, wretched, stored-up hateful commentaries that we have written about our friends and enemies - they seem somehow tolerable because they are only in our own minds and hearts.&nbsp; But it's not tolerable to the great God who discerns our thoughts from afar.&nbsp; And whether or not you can justify these nasties in your own mind, I'm pretty sure that God's not buying your excuse.&nbsp; People injure us.&nbsp; People are rude and ugly (in many different ways).&nbsp; People are spiteful and impatient and have wicked tongues.&nbsp; But that does not excuse our bitterness, anger and resentment of them.&nbsp; Because every ounce of injury and rudeness, every cutting remark, every slight that&nbsp;I have endured...I have earned them all (and more) by the injury I've done to others.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And what's more, if we are to be all in for Christ, hard followers of a risen Savior......the whole stinking point is Romans 5:8 anyway:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;"><strong>But God demonstrates His </strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;"><strong>own love </strong></span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;"><strong>toward us, in that </strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;"><strong>while we were still sinners, </strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Christ died for us.</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;">We don't get to repay like with like.&nbsp; We don't get to get even.&nbsp; We don't get to wait sullenly until the other guy says he's sorry.&nbsp; Out of gratitude for the gift our very lives, our very next breath - we are to run to those who we ought to hate and shower them with mercy and kindness.&nbsp; We are to push through our feelings of distaste and mistrust and love those who have taken a big crap on us.&nbsp; We are to give our possessions to those who don't deserve them.&nbsp; And we're to do all this ridiculous stuff with a joyful heart.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;">That's just crazy talk, I know.&nbsp; But don't you want to live in a world of crazy people who love you, really love you in spite of yourself?&nbsp; Imagine for a moment what your marriage would look like.&nbsp; What your neighborhood would look like.&nbsp; Your workplace.&nbsp; Can you begin to imagine what your church would look like if you actually LOVED the people in the next pew - and they loved you.&nbsp; </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #666666;">Pray for me this week as I try on a little bit of crazy.</span>&nbsp; </div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-80586711924631162612011-07-25T19:04:00.000-07:002011-07-25T19:04:15.184-07:00Oh wait, I write a blog????And yet again, my four loyal followers may be wondering where I've been...And the answer is, I really don't know!&nbsp; It was so good to have the Big Sarge home for two weeks of leave, but I've not really gotten back into the groove since he left.&nbsp; Fatigue and discombobulation reign here at the LoveShack.&nbsp; I believe that we have hit.....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fR3vB3D95m8/Ti4bStrNTKI/AAAAAAAAAEo/oQPf_q0FZoA/s1600/BrickWall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fR3vB3D95m8/Ti4bStrNTKI/AAAAAAAAAEo/oQPf_q0FZoA/s200/BrickWall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">the wall.....yep, that's what my head is smacking up against lately.&nbsp; It's been great.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, I am actually hoping that school will help.&nbsp; I'm hoping our first day will be August 15 - that gives me a little room to take off some time when Big Sarge is FINALLY HOME!!!!&nbsp; I'm hoping that back on a stricter schedule with everyone knowing what each day (in theory) will bring will help.&nbsp; Also beginning a major overhaul of our schoolroom, in the hopes that a little more order might help, too.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In other news...my biggest is away at camp.&nbsp; Sigh.&nbsp; And while the LadyBug has traditionally been a bit more cautious and not-so-keen on new stuff....she was pretty much like, 'see ya!'....and I was glad.&nbsp; </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UNv4uLKX0CM/Ti4fSqx0sjI/AAAAAAAAAEs/Y3I_MMAJXng/s1600/239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UNv4uLKX0CM/Ti4fSqx0sjI/AAAAAAAAAEs/Y3I_MMAJXng/s320/239.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yep, that's a tepee...better her than me!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I miss her this week, and am DYING to know what she's up to (the first time ever that she's up to lots of stuff without me), but mostly, I'm glad she's there.&nbsp; LadyBug is our family anxiety sponge - and this deployment has been tough on her.&nbsp; She and Big Sarge are birds of a feather and so she misses him most particularly - and she frets about all of us.&nbsp; So, I'm glad that she's got a whole five days to do nothing but be a kid.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm off to put some shelves together.....drink a coffee.....and watch an episode of my new favorite show - Midsomer Murders.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kAuW1oprjI/Ti4gF47lb2I/AAAAAAAAAEw/DjUSudhoOOg/s1600/midsomer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0kAuW1oprjI/Ti4gF47lb2I/AAAAAAAAAEw/DjUSudhoOOg/s1600/midsomer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, more on that later.....﻿</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-18417758455757281182011-07-16T09:25:00.000-07:002011-07-16T09:25:04.355-07:00Ernie Haase Day!!!!It's the day that we look forward to all year!&nbsp; It's Ernie Haase Day!!!&nbsp; <br /><br />Who's Ernie Haase?&nbsp; Well, I'm gonna tell ya!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/8iWY_hXW8Kg/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8iWY_hXW8Kg&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8iWY_hXW8Kg&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br /><br />Oh, What a Savior!&nbsp; I love this guy's voice.&nbsp; <br /><br />This will be the third year we've taken the monkeys to see these guys.&nbsp; And they are just as gracious as they are gifted.&nbsp; <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U52n4raCvPQ/TiG4TQoivVI/AAAAAAAAAEc/ZKREdNEErwI/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U52n4raCvPQ/TiG4TQoivVI/AAAAAAAAAEc/ZKREdNEErwI/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Ernie is so cool!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />This is Devin....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKZ_vPXOxgA/TiG3Icst7LI/AAAAAAAAAEU/M7Xko_OpsAg/s1600/088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKZ_vPXOxgA/TiG3Icst7LI/AAAAAAAAAEU/M7Xko_OpsAg/s320/088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And this is Doug Anderson...as yes, he's even cuter in person.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/o0udNpFG8rs?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">'Til We Fly Away</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MqKcK8URd4/TiG4bpMEb5I/AAAAAAAAAEk/9Ft7k9BsKuM/s1600/089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1MqKcK8URd4/TiG4bpMEb5I/AAAAAAAAAEk/9Ft7k9BsKuM/s320/089.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love Firecracker's star-struck look!!<br /><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">﻿</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't get a picture of the bass, Timmy Duncan last year...wish I had since now there's a new guy singing his part....so that's one of my goals for tonight!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know that Southern Gospel isn't everybody's cup of tea, but I love the fact that these are the guys that my monkeys think of as rock stars and idolize.&nbsp; And they're funny, and real, and not stuffed shirts.....cool-ish men singing about Jesus!&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One last song to sing us out....the song that started in all here at the Love Shack....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/72DS0zVnM0c?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay....one more.....the monkeys everytime-absolute favorite.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/T1Zu2LEaanE?feature=player_embedded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Blessed weekend to you all!</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-63933108344992635512011-07-11T13:42:00.000-07:002011-07-11T13:42:53.137-07:00would you people just GO TO BED!!!!Just got this in the mail today...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cICLK10AKKc/ThtgMRHW9aI/AAAAAAAAAD0/BaBTSxR4kcw/s1600/fdfaith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cICLK10AKKc/ThtgMRHW9aI/AAAAAAAAAD0/BaBTSxR4kcw/s320/fdfaith.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />...and I'm so excited that I actually thought briefly about making my monkeys go to bed at 4:30 in the afternoon!<br /><br />Can't wait to tell you how it is!mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-67362954224186062492011-07-10T19:51:00.000-07:002011-07-10T19:51:35.678-07:00A gift from Lousia May Alcott<div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLYIxq-RAsA/ThpkmV54uQI/AAAAAAAAADo/V-WF5cL3icg/s1600/laundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wLYIxq-RAsA/ThpkmV54uQI/AAAAAAAAADo/V-WF5cL3icg/s320/laundry.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><em>A SONG FROM THE SUDS</em><br /><br /><em>Queen of my tub, I merrily sing,</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>While the white foam rises high;</em></div><div align="center"><em>and sturdily wash and rinse and wring,</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And fasten the clothes to dry;</em></div><div align="center"><em>Then out in the free fresh air they swing,</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Under the sunny sky.</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><em>I wish we could wash from our hearts and souls</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The stains of the week away,</em></div><div align="center"><em>And let water and air by their magic make</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ourselves as pure as they;</em></div><div align="center"><em>Then on the earth there would be indeed</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A glorious washing day!</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><em>Along the path of a useful life,</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Will heart's-ease ever bloom;</em></div><div align="center"><em>The busy mind has no time to think</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of sorrow or care or gloom;</em></div><div align="center"><em>And anxious thoughts may be swept away,</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As we bravely wield a broom.</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><em>I am glad a task to me is given,</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To labor at day by day;</em></div><div align="center"><em>For it brings me health and strength and hope,</em></div><div align="center"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And I cheerfully learn to say,-</em></div><div align="center"><em>"Head, you may think, Heart, you may feel,</em></div><div align="center"><em>But, Hand, you shall work alway!"</em></div><div align="center"><br />from Little Women</div><div align="center"><em>﻿</em></div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-41654754010439800832011-07-07T20:49:00.000-07:002011-07-07T20:49:32.962-07:00Please allow me to introduce myself...So, since I haven't been around much, I thought this might be a good time to (re)introduce myself.<br /><br />First, a recent photo:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oXf03jczVdo/ThPVUyKINiI/AAAAAAAAADE/JqzE8FHwKZ0/s1600/horsesass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oXf03jczVdo/ThPVUyKINiI/AAAAAAAAADE/JqzE8FHwKZ0/s1600/horsesass.jpg" /></a></div>I think it's really quite a good likeness.&nbsp; Sigh...been a long streak of <span style="font-family: inherit;">stepping</span> in it...sticking my foot in my mouth.....and eating humble pie.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="font-family: &quot;Trebuchet MS&quot;, sans-serif;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; do not fret—it leads only to evil. </em></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Psalm 37:8</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or, then there's the face my kids see a bit too often....</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KIVn7SS_RY/ThPXEq02y5I/AAAAAAAAADI/ezaE3OfgsXo/s1600/medusa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KIVn7SS_RY/ThPXEq02y5I/AAAAAAAAADI/ezaE3OfgsXo/s1600/medusa.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yeah, about that temper thing.&nbsp; Have yet to turn them bodily into stone, but what of their hearts?&nbsp; I tell them often that they can't use this or that circumstance as excuse for bad behavior, or bad attitudes.&nbsp; But too often, they feel the effect of my too tired, frayed nerves and bear the brunt of my bad attitude.&nbsp; And I guess you could say that with life as it is at the moment that we have every right to be tired and a bit worn around the edges....but do we?&nbsp; Yep, we're human and thus susceptible to difficulties of this life but we are also given some pretty non-negotiable instructions in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians:</span><br /><strong><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 16</em></span></sup></strong><em> Rejoice always, </em><br /><em><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29639"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 17</span></strong></sup> pray continually, </em><br /><em><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29640"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 18</span></strong></sup> give thanks in all circumstances; for this </em><br /><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; is God’s will for you </em><br /><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in Christ Jesus. </em><br /><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18</em><br />And then, there's my deployment fitness regime which has yielded really impressive results.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLDQFLg9nto/ThZ0Sbz78NI/AAAAAAAAADM/JZ56hlAAqDw/s1600/grimace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TLDQFLg9nto/ThZ0Sbz78NI/AAAAAAAAADM/JZ56hlAAqDw/s1600/grimace.jpg" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yep, that's right - I've been following the Body by Grimace program.&nbsp; This consists of three pregnancies, two C-sections, and a grueling daily ritual that includes nightly snacking and a lot of time sitting on your rear-side watching movies and feeling sorry for yourself.&nbsp; It's been hell, but I'm trying to persevere.&nbsp; In truth, since Big Sarge is getting skinnier on the the Deployment Diet, I've decided to gain all the weight he's lost in the most unattractive way possible so that, when he's finally home for good, he'll feel really good about himself in contrast.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Seriously, I wonder when we will actually begin to really see our eating (over-eating, under-eating, junk-eating, obsessively-only-organic-everything-eating, etc.) as a spiritual issue.&nbsp; Because whichever way the wind blows us, it all comes down to pride, idolatry and materialism.....just like everything else that we trip over.&nbsp; Food ought to be a gift, a blessing and thing to be thankful for....but I'm not sure I know a single person who really sees it that way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <em><strong><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">20</span></sup></strong> Do not join those who drink too much wine <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; or gorge themselves on meat, <br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17066"><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 21</span></strong></sup> for drunkards and gluttons </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; become poor,<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and drowsiness clothes them </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in rags. ﻿</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Proverbs 23:20-21</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Add it all together, and this is what you get:</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GerC2rNT1Sc/ThZ3au_y75I/AAAAAAAAADQ/ZcwgkszEEs4/s1600/egg+beater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GerC2rNT1Sc/ThZ3au_y75I/AAAAAAAAADQ/ZcwgkszEEs4/s1600/egg+beater.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This, for those of you who don't know, is an eggbeater.&nbsp; I'm pretty sure that this device is being cranked at an amazing rate of speed somewhere behind my bellybutton 24 hours a day.&nbsp; I'm still making to the end of each day, but barely.&nbsp; I'm still feeding all three children, but we've been eating a lot of popcorn.&nbsp; Everyone is still dressed, but more often than not, they're dressing out of the dryer.&nbsp; I'm still sleeping, but not deeply and not long.&nbsp; And I could easily point the finger at my current nemesis:&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4R--sfs2ck/ThZ5O5mHOVI/AAAAAAAAADU/0qeDAsVMgw8/s1600/dep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X4R--sfs2ck/ThZ5O5mHOVI/AAAAAAAAADU/0qeDAsVMgw8/s200/dep.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, that's not the real root of the issue and we all know it.&nbsp; The root of the real issue is self-pity - pride's evil twin brother.&nbsp; The reason that the abundant life that the Lord designed and desires of us is so often out of reach is because we don't really want it.&nbsp; We're far too busy looking for the next sap to dry our tears and kiss our boo-boos that we become those things that seek to drag us down.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, it's a hardship to be alone - or whatever your circumstance is.&nbsp; Yes, we were warned by Christ Himself to expect trouble - and we get it.&nbsp; And yes, there are terrible, tragic, grieving things that overtake us on this journey.&nbsp; But in the midst of these things, are we truly, truly seeing to worship and glorify God, or too often are we seeking after pity, desiring to be glorified for our handling of this or that, secretly enjoying our role as victim?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;And yes, it's a process - we grieve in stages, we move through the process of accepting our lot, we grow and stretch and change in our circumstances.....but all this assumes some kind of forward motion.&nbsp; I don't know about you, but I spend a lot of time in neutral - just blindly moving from one assigned place and time to another.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Abundant life is about seeking God, seeking maturity, seeking surrender, seeking, seeking, seeking.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I fear that we are often too busy wallowing to be doing Gods' work in this world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, now that we've been (re)introduced.....you still wanna be friends??????﻿</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-42160250342291095412011-07-02T14:56:00.000-07:002011-07-02T14:56:53.834-07:00where the heck have I been????So, still digging out of the housekeeping hole that comes from two weeks of Big Sarge home (yippee!!!!), followed very closely by five days with my brother and nephew (yippee, again!!).&nbsp; But, here are some highlights for both of my loyal followers!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WURSLerVNhg/Tg-RVmZhEOI/AAAAAAAAACY/FY7AqPWFaoA/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WURSLerVNhg/Tg-RVmZhEOI/AAAAAAAAACY/FY7AqPWFaoA/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daddie TOTALLY surprised us all - he snuck in the back </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">door and made us all scream like little girls - which made the Griz cry like a baby.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;But, WHO CARES!!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zysO_SJx2Gg/Tg-RYs6UrWI/AAAAAAAAACc/CB9lM4D9QqE/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zysO_SJx2Gg/Tg-RYs6UrWI/AAAAAAAAACc/CB9lM4D9QqE/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Trip to Lake Codorus - nothing like some water and </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">sunshine to brighten up your day!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6N80Ua2jU74/Tg-RfuOtQlI/AAAAAAAAACg/9zhCQy6B1Jc/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6N80Ua2jU74/Tg-RfuOtQlI/AAAAAAAAACg/9zhCQy6B1Jc/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Catoctin Zoo - everyone loved the deer - especially the Griz</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">who apparently ain't afraid of nothin' or nobody!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wh1SIXR1zqM/Tg-RiFl5w-I/AAAAAAAAACk/S7R1_27oQfA/s1600/064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wh1SIXR1zqM/Tg-RiFl5w-I/AAAAAAAAACk/S7R1_27oQfA/s320/064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Ladybug, The Firecracker and the Griz...ain't they cute!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VeDgtvAV2e0/Tg-RsTIhg0I/AAAAAAAAACo/y-HAc8rjMFc/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VeDgtvAV2e0/Tg-RsTIhg0I/AAAAAAAAACo/y-HAc8rjMFc/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Griz's first swinginginginging...can't stop!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPK0nrp_SEM/Tg-Ru0bqI8I/AAAAAAAAACs/TKx6W6Z291U/s1600/098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oPK0nrp_SEM/Tg-Ru0bqI8I/AAAAAAAAACs/TKx6W6Z291U/s320/098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">The boys hamming it up!﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0mcy6klr1Ao/Tg-RyKNzKxI/AAAAAAAAACw/fNyTDhVS1Lc/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0mcy6klr1Ao/Tg-RyKNzKxI/AAAAAAAAACw/fNyTDhVS1Lc/s320/105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div align="center">People movers at the airport!﻿</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S15MRwlmSb4/Tg-R7InKCWI/AAAAAAAAAC0/mTVqnUzsIVA/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S15MRwlmSb4/Tg-R7InKCWI/AAAAAAAAAC0/mTVqnUzsIVA/s320/120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look - we're smiling even though we don't want to!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dN45N14a9HU/Tg-SBuIHceI/AAAAAAAAAC4/l1tD0pVf7-E/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dN45N14a9HU/Tg-SBuIHceI/AAAAAAAAAC4/l1tD0pVf7-E/s320/116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We don't travel without our Grammie!&nbsp; We love Grammie!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, that's the leave that was.....come on Christmas so we can have him home for good!</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-61476018260360682812011-06-03T19:02:00.000-07:002011-06-03T19:02:57.100-07:00Sweet.Thank you Jesus for a day as a whole family together.&nbsp; Big Sarge thanks you.&nbsp; The monkeys thank you.&nbsp; And I thank you.&nbsp; A totally normal day.....yet elevated to heights of joy because we went to WalMart together.&nbsp; Sweet.&nbsp; And tomorrow, we're doing chores together.&nbsp; Sweet.&nbsp; Going to snuggle on the couch with a coffee and the Big Sarge and watch some tube.&nbsp; Together.&nbsp; Sweet.mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-47088543900482079282011-06-02T18:20:00.001-07:002011-06-02T18:20:53.674-07:00Big Sarge is in the house!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iY3J-DHDNt4/Teg2x5Cxg2I/AAAAAAAAACM/bkZFQftRJRM/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iY3J-DHDNt4/Teg2x5Cxg2I/AAAAAAAAACM/bkZFQftRJRM/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-37631217910018982262011-05-30T19:22:00.000-07:002011-05-31T10:52:51.054-07:00misuse of government equipmentHappy Memorial Day!&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TBpUllhJWA/TeRLVEjz9RI/AAAAAAAAAB4/2C7Dc4akiCE/s1600/flad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--TBpUllhJWA/TeRLVEjz9RI/AAAAAAAAAB4/2C7Dc4akiCE/s1600/flad.jpg" /></a></div>Although it's one of those things in life that when you think about it, really isn't exactly 'happy.'<br /><br />I took the girls to the parade today....was nice to be out with just the 'bigs' since the Griz went home with Grammie since it was so blasted hot today.&nbsp; And I was hatching a devious plot.....<br /><br />This is a traffic camera:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YCe4dItmHM/TeRLvDi3vlI/AAAAAAAAAB8/KTeYbGYl6NY/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0YCe4dItmHM/TeRLvDi3vlI/AAAAAAAAAB8/KTeYbGYl6NY/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>That street light looking thing on the loopy stand thing (technical, I know) looks up Baltimore Street where it meets Steinwehr Ave.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.dot.state.pa.us/Penndot/Districts/district8.nsf/TCBaltimoreStreetatSteinwehrAve?OpenPage">This is what he could see.</a><br /><br />And I knew that Big Sarge knew about it because he told me that he watched it to check the weather where we are and when he gets homesick!&nbsp; And if you know me, you will know that I would never know a thing about traffic cams if it weren't for the Big Sarge....<br /><br />I emailed Big Sarge and mentioned that it would be cool if he got online when the parade was going on so we could watch it&nbsp;together.&nbsp; Not exactly why PennDot put that camera there, but might as well use it for something good.<br /><br />We got to Baltimore Street about 1:30 and picked out spots right next to the tent they set up for the wounded warriors (which was totally cool in itself since I got a chance to speak with a few of the wives and children.......awesome).&nbsp; <br /><br />We busted out our sign:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmiIsSXZg60/TeRNUTwa56I/AAAAAAAAACA/xs6zxU-BleU/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmiIsSXZg60/TeRNUTwa56I/AAAAAAAAACA/xs6zxU-BleU/s320/001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>And held it up tall and proud for Big Sarge to see!&nbsp; And he did!&nbsp; Granted, he really couldn't read it, but he knew that it was for him.&nbsp; And all intense cutie-ness of the blonde girls attracted a lot of attention.&nbsp; We were interviewed for Fox News, got lots of 'thank you's' for us and Big Sarge and had a great time.&nbsp; All the folks got a kick out of the furious texting back and forth between G-burg and the desert....especially when Big Dad mentioned that one of the bigs ought to sit still since he could see them wandering around on camera!&nbsp; The only bummer was that the news people didn't use the part of the interview where I told the whole world how proud we were of our soldier.....guess we'll have to tell him in person.<br /><br />And then ice cream at the Sunset:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0x3KwFtTkWg/TeROUlfRB_I/AAAAAAAAACE/Y7oBCQrxspI/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0x3KwFtTkWg/TeROUlfRB_I/AAAAAAAAACE/Y7oBCQrxspI/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ladybug downs some cheesecake swirl.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1msU9408XE/TeROW21n19I/AAAAAAAAACI/EQvOgJ21WWs/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_1msU9408XE/TeROW21n19I/AAAAAAAAACI/EQvOgJ21WWs/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firecracker opts for watermelon.</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left">And Mama let everyone stay up late to watch How To Train Your Dragon (cute, but a disappointment after reading the book).</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">A good, small-town kind of day......but, true freedom will never come from anything on this earth but only comes from the Lord of Heaven and Earth - the risen and reigning Jesus Christ.&nbsp; </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Pray for our men and women in harm's way, away from home, training and serving wherever they are.&nbsp; Pray for their families - their husbands, wives, parents and children.&nbsp; Pray for those who mourn the loss of their soldiers.&nbsp; Pray for the injured to heal.&nbsp; Pray for peace.&nbsp; Pray.&nbsp; Pray.&nbsp; Pray.</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-21267728949610935992011-05-29T19:42:00.000-07:002011-05-30T09:18:55.398-07:00Sunday Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QC4J5iqNG9A/TeL89XYyM3I/AAAAAAAAAB0/6OBEppkF9Uk/s1600/report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QC4J5iqNG9A/TeL89XYyM3I/AAAAAAAAAB0/6OBEppkF9Uk/s1600/report.jpg" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, did I manage to accomplish anything on the weekend list?????&nbsp; Drum roll, please.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That would be....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">NO.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Except hanging out with my Nana....although she totally dissed me today in favor of having lunch with one of her girlfriends.&nbsp; Stood up by an old lady....a banner day!&nbsp; Actually, I thought the&nbsp;whole thing was cool - I hope to be with it enough at her age to still go out to lunch with my girlfriends!&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Otherwise, a total loss on the list of things to get done!&nbsp; But, I hung out with my kids, did a pile of laundry, and got to church this morning.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yeah, and about that church thing......wanna guess what percentage of the sermon I actually heard today?&nbsp; If you guessed about 2%, you're close.&nbsp; And this would be why:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzST7dMF5k5qra4zUNzhKO7G0E3J_iTk9sDo-euAgVfj3fPNYwQKmQBmuPSnVmmh16Oz11RxODsSFHUIWsBQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not exactly conducive to Mama getting to listen to the sermon...which is a bummer, since Tyler was preaching today - a rare and excellent treat.&nbsp; So it&nbsp;was back the nursery for me.&nbsp; In the end,&nbsp; I was glad of it, though - the baby nursery was hopping this morning and it was a great time of fellowship and chit-chat with a great bunch of ladies.&nbsp; We are each of us faced with a unique set of difficulties, challenges and blessings - but we hold in common a great love for our children, the desire to ever be better mothers and wives and the need for real, honest fellowship. It was a great morning!</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back to the grindstone for me......portfolio this week!&nbsp; Blessed week to all!</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-73270535837472148132011-05-28T19:31:00.000-07:002011-05-29T19:07:46.589-07:00soon and very soonFor the last few years, our crib has lived at my mom's house.&nbsp; There wasn't any sense in it gathering dust here and she used it for my brother's kids when they came to visit.&nbsp; But, since the Griz is getting bigger by the minute and rapidly outgrowing the bassinet, it was time to bring the crib home.&nbsp; Good timing, really since the Big Sarge will be home in the next few weeks and there's probably not enough room for me, the Griz and the Sarge in a double bed.&nbsp; Maybe back when Big Sarge and Mama were a bit skinnier, but now, perhaps not so much.....<br /><br />So, job done - crib disassembled, moved and re-assembled.&nbsp; I rock.&nbsp; Yes, I do.&nbsp; <br /><br />And now, there it sits.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOTXdLtfC94/TeGnKzE6SrI/AAAAAAAAABo/_TLop_mNXgo/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOTXdLtfC94/TeGnKzE6SrI/AAAAAAAAABo/_TLop_mNXgo/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left">A large, obtrusive reminder that mid-tour leave is nearly upon us.&nbsp; The monkeys are excited.&nbsp; The Sarge is excited.&nbsp; I'm.....scared to death.&nbsp; I've been alone for over five months now.&nbsp; And I'm tired, and a little harried.&nbsp; But, I'm making it.&nbsp; I always do.&nbsp; </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Since we've been married, the Big Sarge has often been away, or worked crazy hours or been on orders.&nbsp; We lived through several years of his being a National Guard recruiter.&nbsp; This equals crazy hours, always being available and taking appointments whenever and wherever you can get them.&nbsp; Then the first 362 day deployment.&nbsp; Then a few months of a civilian job where Sarge was home every night, but not making good money, so I worked at night.&nbsp; Then a job in the mobilization cell at Indiantown Gap where we averaged two nights a week and every other weekend with him home.&nbsp; Then last year, he was at Ft Dix for what amounted to almost 7 months when you added it all together.&nbsp; And now deployment #2.&nbsp; <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ugd1S2i5R5A/TeGvCwwjBFI/AAAAAAAAABw/Y4teef7TRv8/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ugd1S2i5R5A/TeGvCwwjBFI/AAAAAAAAABw/Y4teef7TRv8/s320/142.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dropping the Sarge off.....boo!</td></tr></tbody></table>I'm good at being on my own.&nbsp; And not so good at having him here.</div><div align="left"><br />Most people think that the hardest thing would be to let someone else make the every day decisions that I can make all by myself - and do make all by myself.&nbsp; But for me, that's not really a big deal - it's actually a relief to have someone else hand out consequences, tell Firecracker if she's allowed to wear stripes and plaid together and tell me where they are going to drive me to eat supper.&nbsp; <br /><br />And our life is so chaotic and our house such a pig sty that there's very little order that can be disordered around here.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1soVJSPo0-Y/TeGshvQIjAI/AAAAAAAAABs/LAjeSanL6qY/s1600/heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1soVJSPo0-Y/TeGshvQIjAI/AAAAAAAAABs/LAjeSanL6qY/s1600/heart.jpg" /></a></div>For me, it's a heart issue.&nbsp; Too much time alone cultivates a hard heart in me.&nbsp; A heart that doesn't really want to need anyone.&nbsp; A heart would just rather be left alone.&nbsp; This is not exactly a healthy approach to marriage...<br /><br />So, I'm striving to un-harden this heart of stone.....and I really want to succeed.&nbsp; I really want us to have a good two weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp; I really want the Sarge to head back to the sandbox knowing that he is loved, honored and respected.&nbsp; I really want to do this well.&nbsp; <br /><br />Prayer gratefully accepted.</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1436576014352357483.post-49060829413068696242011-05-27T19:35:00.000-07:002011-05-28T14:11:28.239-07:00Weekend plans<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHTiGVt8OaY/TeBatWfyb2I/AAAAAAAAABU/Ay7sKf7Ep_I/s1600/ducksinrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RHTiGVt8OaY/TeBatWfyb2I/AAAAAAAAABU/Ay7sKf7Ep_I/s1600/ducksinrow.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting my ducks in a row....</td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left">Top of my list of weekend stuff is Nana-sitting!&nbsp; With my Dad out of town, I am blessed to get the responsibility of checking in on my 92-year old Nana this weekend.&nbsp; </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JquQKknn-jQ/TeBcmJtxpHI/AAAAAAAAABY/56ZmZcJp-aQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JquQKknn-jQ/TeBcmJtxpHI/AAAAAAAAABY/56ZmZcJp-aQ/s320/001.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="left">Yep, it interrupts my day.&nbsp; Yep, I gotta stick the kids somewhere in case she needs my attention (thanks, Hoffmans!).&nbsp; But what a gift she is to all of us.&nbsp; Pray for her.....her youngest child passed away last week, she has profound hearing loss (which is unbearably frustrating for her), she's been alone since PopPop died when I was a baby, and she's ready to go home and be with her Lord.&nbsp; The kids and I took her out to supper tonight and I'm sure we were a sight.....from 92 to 7 months gathered round a table.&nbsp; And, I guess some people might think that we are kind for taking her out - but I know that ﻿<u>we</u> are the ones blessed by her presence, her testimony and her spunkiness.&nbsp; </div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Far down on the list of priorities:</div><div align="left">-restocking some supplies for&nbsp;the Griz's&nbsp;formula from <a href="http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/HOMEMADE-BABY-FORMULA-INGREDIENTS/superfoods-supplements">radiant life</a>.&nbsp; Someday soon, I'll do post and tutorial about this and tell the story of my nursing journey with my little man.</div><div align="left">-making a final decision about Latin curriculum....leaning towards <a href="http://www.memoriapress.com/descriptions/prima.htm">Prima Latina</a> for Ladybug.</div><div align="left">-finding the Griz some summer shoes...I like <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/carozoo-soft-sole-leather-baby-sandals-dots-cream-6-12m-/190538163454?pt=US_Baby_Toddler_Shoes&amp;hash=item2c5cf5a4fe">these</a>&nbsp;.</div><div align="left">-carving out some time with the Lord - my heart is totally unprepared for the Big Sarge to be home for mid-tour leave soon....(well, this isn't exactly 'far down' on the list of priorities.....but, I still wonder if I'll get to it....sigh)...</div><div align="left">-sleep...no, really.....sleep is a MAJOR issue at the LoveShack......</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Happy Weekend to all......</div>mrsmarylovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379971462072466132noreply@blogger.com0